Japan Press Weekly

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2021 January 13 - 19 [POLITICS]

Pushed by JCP, LDP promises to incorporate provision for gov’t aid in bill to revise law on fight against COVID-19

A top official of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Shimomura Hakubun who heads the party’s Policy Research Council, on January 15 expressed his determination to incorporate in a bill to revise the law on anti-coronavirus special measures a provision obliging the government to provide financial support to businesses which comply with a government request for shorter business hours or business suspensions.

He made this announcement on a political talk show, BS Fuji Live Prime News, which aired on the same day in response to a question by Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira.

Koike cited the government-drafted bill to revise the special measures law in the fight against COVID-19. He said that the bill states that the government will “make efforts” to support business owners affected by various restrictions due to the pandemic. Koike argued, “Under a revision, while calling for compliance with corona-related regulations, the government only shows a stance to make efforts to cover a loss. Does the government think that’s allowable?”

In response, Shimomura said that the ruling party as its "obligation" will make a change in the bill so that financial assistance will be provided.